This book offers the first annotated translation in English of two works of the eminent Venetian humanist, Ermolao Barbaro (1454-93). Books 3 and 4 of On Celibacy seek to justify a contemplative existence at a far remove from the active life and career-path expected of a figure of Barbaro’s standing within the Venetian patriciate; Books 1 and 2 of On Celibacy are presented in the companion piece to this second volume. The second work presented here is Barbaro’s short treatise On the Duty of Ambassador (likely written in mid- to late-1489): based on Barbaro’s own practical experience as a Venetian envoy abroad, this treatise outlines the conduct expected of the dedicated career diplomat.
Viewed against each other, Barbaro’s On Celibacy and On the Duty of the Ambassador offer contrasting perspectives on the wider 15th-century debate about the claims of the reflective as opposed to the active life – a debate that extends all the way back to Greco-Roman antiquity. In On Celibacy the young Barbaro is committed to a life that proudly renounces civic engagement in the name of self-discovery and inner fulfilment. Yet a different Barbaro asserts himself in On the Duty of the Ambassador: he now presents himself as a committed public servant in a work that is ahead if its time in theorizing the nature of ‘modern’ Renaissance diplomacy. On a personal level, these two works capture the profound dichotomy in Barbaro’s life between his humanist devotion to scholarship on the one hand and, on the other, his burden of duty to the Republic of Venice.
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List of illustrations
Preface
Note on the Text and Translation
List of Abbreviations
Introduction
On Celibacy Book 3: text and translation
On Celibacy Book 4: text and translation
Introduction to On the Duty of the Ambassador
On the Duty of the Ambassador: text, translation and notes
Bibliography
Index locorum
General Index
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An annotated Neo-Latin text and translation of two important works in the socio-cultural history of 15th-century Venice.
The first edition of two key Venetian humanist Neo-Latin texts
The Bloomsbury Neo-Latin Series is a dedicated early modern Latin series making texts as well as analysis and criticism of early modern Latin literature available in two strands. This strand presents texts with English translations, introductions and notes. Volumes include complete editions of longer single texts and themed anthologies bringing together texts from particular genres, periods or countries.
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Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9781350398931
Publisert
2023-10-05
Utgiver
Vendor
Bloomsbury Academic
Høyde
216 mm
Bredde
138 mm
Aldersnivå
P, U, 06, 05
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Antall sider
256
Redaktør